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Selected Verse: Proverbs 25:2 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Pr 25:2 |
Strong Concordance |
It is the glory [03519] of God [0430] to conceal [05641] a thing [01697]: but the honour [03519] of kings [04428] is to search out [02713] a matter [01697]. |
|
King James |
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
God's unsearchableness impresses us with awe (compare Isa 45:15; Rom 11:33). But kings, being finite, should confer with wise counsellors; |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
The earthly monarch might be, in some respects, the type of the heavenly, but here there is a marked contrast. The king presses further and further into all knowledge; God surrounds Himself as in "thick darkness," and there are secrets unrevealed even after the fullest revelation. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
It is characteristic of the purpose of the book that it begins with proverbs of the king:
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing;
And the glory of the king to search out a matter.
That which is the glory of God and the glory of the king in itself, and that by which they acquire glory, stand here contrasted. The glory of God consists in this, to conceal a matter, i.e., to place before men mystery upon mystery, in which they become conscious of the limitation and insufficiency of their knowledge, so that they are constrained to acknowledge, Deu 29:28, that "secret things belong unto the Lord our God." There are many things that are hidden and are known only to God, and we must be contented with that which He sees it good to make known to us.
(Note: Cf. von Lasaulx, Philosophie der Geschichte, p. 128f.: "God and Nature love to conceal the beginning of things.")
The honour of kings, on the contrary, who as pilots have to steer the ship of the state (Pro 11:14), and as supreme judges to administer justice (Kg1 3:9), consists in this, to search out a matter, i.e., to place in the light things that are problematical and subjects of controversy, in conformity with their high position, with surpassing intelligence, and, in conformity with their responsibility, with conscientious zeal. The thought that it is the glory of God to veil Himself in secrecy (Isa 55:1-13 :15; cf. Kg1 8:12), and of the king, on the contrary, not to surround himself with an impenetrable nimbus, and to withdraw into inaccessible remoteness - this thought does not, immediately at least, lie in the proverb, which refers that which is concealed, and its contrary, not to the person, but to a matter. Also that God, by the concealment of certain things, seeks to excite to activity human research, is not said in this proverb; for 2b does not speak of the honour of wise men, but of kings; the searching out, 2b, thus does not refer to that which is veiled by God. But since the honour of God at the same time as the welfare of men, and the honour of the king as well as the welfare of his people, is to be thought of, the proverb states that God and the king promote human welfare in very different ways - God, by concealing that which sets limits to the knowledge of man, that he may not be uplifted; and the king, by research, which brings out the true state of the matter, and thereby guards the political and social condition against threatening danger, secret injuries, and the ban of offences unatoned for. This proverb, regarding the difference between that which constitutes the honour of God and of the king, is followed by one which refers to that in which the honour of both is alike. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
The glory - It is agreeable to the nature of God; it is a testimony of his infinite wisdom, and of his absolute power and sovereignty. To conceal - To keep his counsels, and the reasons of his actions in his own breast. Search out - To communicate their counsels to others, that so they may search and find out the right way. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing - This has been understood as referring to the revelation of God's will in his word, where there are many things concealed in parables, allegories, metaphors, similitudes, etc. And it is becoming the majesty of God so to publish his will, that it must be seriously studied to be understood, in order that the truth may be more prized when it is discovered. And if it be God's glory thus partially to conceal his purposes, it is the glory of a king to search and examine this word, that he may understand how by Him kings reign and princes decree judgment. Prophecies are partially concealed; and we cannot fully know their meaning till their accomplishment; and then the glory of God's wisdom and providence will be more particularly evident, when we see the event correspond so particularly and exactly with the prediction. I know not, however, that there are not matters in the Book of God that will not be fully opened till mortality is swallowed up of life. For here we see through a glass darkly; but there, face to face: here we know in part; but there we shall know as we also are known.
On this subject I cannot withhold an extract of a letter sent to myself, by a royal and learned personage. (His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.)
"As far as I have presumed to dive into and occupy myself with the sacred volumes, I feel satisfied of their Divine origin and truth. And I am satisfied, likewise, that they contain more matter than any one, and myself in particular, can ever aspire fully to understand. This belief, however, ought in nowise to slacken our diligence, or damp our ardor, in attempting a constant pursuit after the attainment of knowledge and truth; as we may flatter ourselves, although unable to reach the gate, we are still approaching nearer to its portals, which of itself is a great blessing."
This sentiment will be approved by every pious and enlightened mind. |
33 O [5599] the depth [899] of the riches [4149] both [2532] of the wisdom [4678] and [2532] knowledge [1108] of God [2316]! how [5613] unsearchable [419] are his [846] judgments [2917], and [2532] his [846] ways [3598] past finding out [421]!
15 Verily [0403] thou art a God [0410] that hidest [05641] thyself, O God [0430] of Israel [03478], the Saviour [03467].
12 Then spake [0559] Solomon [08010], The LORD [03068] said [0559] that he would dwell [07931] in the thick darkness [06205].
1 Ho [01945], every one that thirsteth [06771], come [03212] ye to the waters [04325], and he that hath no money [03701]; come [03212] ye, buy [07666], and eat [0398]; yea, come [03212], buy [07666] wine [03196] and milk [02461] without money [03701] and without price [04242].
2 Wherefore do ye spend [08254] money [03701] for that which is not bread [03899]? and your labour [03018] for that which satisfieth [07654] not [03808]? hearken [08085] diligently [08085] unto me, and eat [0398] ye that which is good [02896], and let your soul [05315] delight [06026] itself in fatness [01880].
3 Incline [05186] your ear [0241], and come [03212] unto me: hear [08085], and your soul [05315] shall live [02421]; and I will make [03772] an everlasting [05769] covenant [01285] with you, even the sure [0539] mercies [02617] of David [01732].
4 Behold, I have given [05414] him for a witness [05707] to the people [03816], a leader [05057] and commander [06680] to the people [03816].
5 Behold, thou shalt call [07121] a nation [01471] that thou knowest [03045] not, and nations [01471] that knew [03045] not thee shall run [07323] unto thee because of the LORD [03068] thy God [0430], and for the Holy One [06918] of Israel [03478]; for he hath glorified [06286] thee.
6 Seek [01875] ye the LORD [03068] while he may be found [04672], call [07121] ye upon him while he is near [07138]:
7 Let the wicked [07563] forsake [05800] his way [01870], and the unrighteous [0205] man [0376] his thoughts [04284]: and let him return [07725] unto the LORD [03068], and he will have mercy [07355] upon him; and to our God [0430], for he will abundantly [07235] pardon [05545].
8 For my thoughts [04284] are not your thoughts [04284], neither are your ways [01870] my ways [01870], saith [05002] the LORD [03068].
9 For as the heavens [08064] are higher [01361] than the earth [0776], so are my ways [01870] higher [01361] than your ways [01870], and my thoughts [04284] than your thoughts [04284].
10 For as the rain [01653] cometh down [03381], and the snow [07950] from heaven [08064], and returneth [07725] not thither, but watereth [07301] the earth [0776], and maketh it bring forth [03205] and bud [06779], that it may give [05414] seed [02233] to the sower [02232], and bread [03899] to the eater [0398]:
11 So shall my word [01697] be that goeth forth [03318] out of my mouth [06310]: it shall not return [07725] unto me void [07387], but it shall accomplish [06213] that which I please [02654], and it shall prosper [06743] in the thing whereto I sent [07971] it.
12 For ye shall go out [03318] with joy [08057], and be led forth [02986] with peace [07965]: the mountains [02022] and the hills [01389] shall break forth [06476] before [06440] you into singing [07440], and all the trees [06086] of the field [07704] shall clap [04222] their hands [03709].
13 Instead of the thorn [05285] shall come up [05927] the fir tree [01265], and instead of the brier [05636] shall come up [05927] the myrtle tree [01918]: and it shall be to the LORD [03068] for a name [08034], for an everlasting [05769] sign [0226] that shall not be cut off [03772].
9 Give [05414] therefore thy servant [05650] an understanding [08085] heart [03820] to judge [08199] thy people [05971], that I may discern [0995] between good [02896] and bad [07451]: for who is able [03201] to judge [08199] this thy so great [03515] a people [05971]?
14 Where no counsel [08458] is, the people [05971] fall [05307]: but in the multitude [07230] of counsellors [03289] there is safety [08668].
28 And the LORD [03068] rooted [05428] them out of their land [0127] in anger [0639], and in wrath [02534], and in great [01419] indignation [07110], and cast [07993] them into another [0312] land [0776], as it is this day [03117].